In Pakistan’s southern province of Sindh, temperatures have surged above 52 degrees Celsius (125.6 degrees Fahrenheit), marking the highest reading of the summer. The Pakistan Meteorological Department reported that in Mohenjo Daro, an archaeological site of the Indus Valley Civilization, temperatures reached 52.2 degrees Celsius (126 degrees Fahrenheit) over the past 24 hours. This extreme heat is nearing the town’s record high of 53.5 degrees Celsius (128.3 degrees Fahrenheit) and the national record of 54 degrees Celsius (129.2 degrees Fahrenheit), set in 2017 in Turbat, Balochistan.

The heat wave, exacerbated by human-driven climate change, has significantly impacted daily life in the region. Shops and markets, typically bustling with activity, are now deserted. Wajid Ali, a tea stall owner in Mohenjo Daro, noted a dramatic decline in customers due to the unbearable heat. “The customers are not coming to the restaurant because of extreme heat. I sit idle at the restaurant with these tables and chairs and without any customers,” Ali said. He also mentioned the frequent power outages that compound the discomfort.

Similarly, Abdul Khaliq, who runs an electronic repairs shop, keeps his store’s shutter half-closed to shield himself from the sun, while local doctor Mushtaq Ahmed observed that residents are adapting by staying indoors or near water sources.

Pakistan is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, ranking as the fifth most affected country globally. Rubina Khursheed Alam, the prime minister’s coordinator on climate, emphasized the government’s efforts in running awareness campaigns about the heat waves and other climate-related challenges, including abnormal rains and floods.

The current heat wave is expected to subside in Mohenjo Daro, but another heat spell is anticipated in other areas of Sindh, including Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city. The situation underscores the urgent need for climate action to mitigate such extreme weather events.